Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for the social service workforce
About CPD
The report sets out the objectives for CPD for the social service workforce in Scotland - social workers, social care workers and those who work in early education and child care. It will apply to workers at all levels and stages of their careers. It is underpinned by the Codes of Practice and encourages employers and employees to make effective use of both formal and informal learning.
Download the Continuing Professional Development report.
CPD can contribute towards a registered worker's Post Registration Training and Learning (PRTL). To find out more, visit the registration pages of the SSSC website.
Rules and requirements for specialist training for social service workers in Scotland 2005
The SSSC has developed a set of Rules and Requirements for Specialist Training for Social Service Workers in Scotland. The first course to be considered under these Rules will be the Practice Learning Qualifications (Social Services). In future these Rules will apply to a limited number of other courses, yet to be determined by the SSSC.
Post Qualifying Consortium (PQC)
The PQC closed in March 2008. If anyone has enquiries in respect of this please contact Brian Smith, Learning and Development Adviser at brian.smith@sssc.uk.com
Mental Health Officer Award
SSSC Council Members agreed the new standards and practice competences for the Mental Health Officer Award at full Council on the 30 October 2007. Please view the Mental Health Officer Awards Standards for further information.
Practice Learning Qualifications (Social Services)
The Practice Learning Qualifications (Social Services) (PLQ(SS)) are a new set of qualifications tol enable those involved in supporting practice learning at all levels of their organisation to gain recognition for their knowledge and skills. PLQ(SS) programmes are approved by the SSSC under the Rules and Requirements for Specialist Training for Social Service Workers in Scotland 2005.
The qualifications are located within the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework and are staged at different levels to reflect the range of roles people undertake in supporting learning, not just of social work students, but also in the wider workforce. Credit rating and SCQF levelling is as follows:
- Stage 1 SCQF level 7 (20 credits)
- Stage 2 SCQF level 9 (40 credits)
- Stage 3 SCQF level 10 (60 credits)
- Stage 4 SCQF level 11 (60 Credits).
Guidance on claiming Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer towards the PLQ(SS) has been developed to assist candidates who may hold other relevant qualifications or experience.
The Guidance comprises four documents:
| PLQSS RPL mapping | Maps a range of other awards commonly held by social service workers against the PLQ(SS) for purposes of RPL and credit transfer |
| PLQSS RPL guidelines | Guidelines to assist programme providers develop and operate RPL processes within the PLQ(SS) |
| PLQSS RPL case study | Different case studies illustrating how RPL for PLQ(SS) might work |
| PLQSS RPL SVQ 4 and A1 case study | A case study illustrating how someone with SVQ 4 Social Care (Adults) and Assessor Award (A1) might use this for RPL for the PLQ(SS) |
Further information about the PLQ(SS) is available in the Practice Learning pages.
